A Quick Travel Guide to Jim Corbett National Park

The desire of watching a tiger live with my own eyes was so intense that it took me to Jim Corbett National Park. A protected area for critically endangered Bengal Tiger, the place is bliss for wildlife and nature lovers.

An overview

Jim Corbett is located at the foothills of the Himalayan belt and falls in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Dense, thick forest, the channels of river and rivulets stretched all over the area, and blissful weather is sources of rich flora and fauna in the national park. The park is famous for its healthy biota.

Different Zones

The entire region of Corbett National Park is spread over a vast area of approx. 520 Sq. KM and has been divided into six zones – Dhikala, Dhela, Bijrani, DurgaDevi, Jhirna, and Sonanadi. You can enjoy the safari ride at any one zone at a time, so it is advisable to keep some general information about them before choosing the zone to visit. Although all zones have their own specialty and are covered with the dense forest as well as diverse species of animals & birds; the most famous, as well as promising zones to spot a tiger, are Dhikala and Bijrani zones. However, you must keep in mind that tiger view is a matter of chance and luck and in none of the zone, you should be guaranteed about spotting a tiger. It is important that tiger spotting should not be the sole reason for your visit to Jim Corbett; the thrilling experience of jungle safari is worth experiencing.

How to Arrange For a Safari?

You will have to make prior bookings for safari. It is always advisable to get the bookings done from the official website of Uttrakhand Tourism. The day permits can be booked up to 45 days in advance. You can choose the slots and your preferred zones while getting the visit permit. Thereafter, once you arrive at Jim Corbett, you need to arrange for Safari Booking. Only green colored government authorized safari jeeps are allowed that can be booked through your hotel or any agent. The charge for one safari jeep is fixed at Rs. 2500/-. A jeep can accommodate six people + 2 children at a time.

There is provision of night stay in resort located in Dhikala Zone. If you want to stay here, you will have to make advance bookings 45 days prior as the accommodation is available for a limited number of people. Stay for a night is always recommended to experience a jungle stay with limited amenities surrounded by wild roars.

There are plenty of good hotels and resorts around every zone of the national park; therefore, to find an accommodation is not a tough job. However, during weekends and vacations, the place is thronged by a large number of people; so, it is always smart to make advance bookings.

Valuable Tips and Highlights:

While arranging for a permit, it is mandatory to feed ID proof details of every visitor.

Carry the same ID proof you have entered while booking.

Every vehicle is accompanied by a guide that will cost you Rs. 500.

Don’t carry high expectations of spotting a tiger while safari rides.

It might be possible that you couldn’t even spot more than five to six animal species (Just like us!). However, the place is worth visiting for its thick woods and lush greenery where you can actual feel the real ambiance of a jungle.

Once in a while, give rest to your camera and just enjoy the adventure vibes.

If you are going for a morning safari, take warm clothes.

To spot maximum wild animals, take a safari during summers when the flora of the place becomes see-through enough.

Time for trip: 2 days with 1 night stay. It is recommended that you extend your trip one more day and make a visit to Nainital as well.

Best Time: Throughout the year except rainy season.

Preferred conveyance: By Road. It has excellent connectivity from Delhi, Dehradun, and Lucknow.